25 – The text here seems defective, nor is there any thing
to guide us to supply the lacuna. What is given in the
translation is no more than a guess at the meaning of the
sentence. The general connection is however clear enough
even if it be omitted.
26 – The reading of Ed. Rom. is here adopted, as alone
furnishing a reasonable sense. The Benedictine text is
unintelligible.
27 – By Illyricum is here meant Illyricum Occidentale, which
at this time was under the jurisdiction of the Vicarius
Italiæ. (See the Table in Smith’s Gibbon, referred to in
note[21] p. 33.) Sirmium, which in the following Century
was entirely destroyed by the Goths under Attila, was
at this time a place of great importance both civil and
ecclesiastical. It is spoken of by Justinian as capital of
Illyricum both in civil and episcopal matters (Tillemont,
note xv on the Life of S. Ambrose vol. x. p. 739). Its
ecclesiastical importance is shewn by the contest in which
S. Ambrose engaged with Justina, two years before the
Council, 379 A. D. to bring about the election of Anemius
as Bishop, when the Empress was using all her influence to
cause an Arian Bishop to be appointed. Arianism had been
rife there for some time, and Germinus a previous Bishop
had been one of the leaders of that party. (Tillemont,
S. Ambr. ch. xx.) Illyricum had been finally separated
into two divisions, Orientale and Occidentale, by Gratian,
in 379 A.D. who transferred the Eastern Division to
Theodosius when he made him Emperor of the East, from
which time it formed part of the Eastern Empire.
(Tillemont, Hist. des Emp. vol. v. p. 716.)
28 – The context requires the reading ‘bonus’ for ‘omnibus,’
which is that of one MS. The same MS. also inserts
‘Deum’ in Eusebius’ next speech, which is required by the
argument.